Van's Aircraft RV-10

infobox Aircraft
name = RV-10
type = RV-10

manufacturer = Van's Aircraft



caption = An RV-10 at the Van's Aircraft display at Sun n Fun 2006 in Lakeland Florida
designer = Richard VanGrunsven
first flight = May 2003
introduction = 2003
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 124 cite web|url = http://vansaircraft.com/public/flights.htm|title = First Flights|accessdate = 2008-03-28|last = Vans Aircraft|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = March]
program cost=
unit cost = USD$95,000-$121,000
developed from = Van's Aircraft RV-7
variants with their own articles =

The Van's Aircraft RV-10 is a four-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. It is the first four-seat airplane in the popular RV series. The RV-10 first flew in May 2003, and the first kit parts were delivered to a customer in September 2003.

By March 2008 124 RV-10s had been completed and flown.

Development

The architect of the line of Van’s aircraft, Richard VanGrunsven, designed the RV-10 to satisfy a market demand for a four-seat version of the popular RV series aircraft. The RV-10 was designed from the start as a touring aircraft and as such it forgoes the aerobatic capabilities and the lighter handling common to the aircraft in the RV line from the RV-3 to RV-8. Instead the RV-10 design focuses on greater stability and payload.

The design power is 210 to 260 (150 to 190 kW) and the prototype was flown with a Lycoming IO-540 powerplant of 260 hp, which is the maximum that the airframe was designed to accept.Kitplanes Staff: "2008 Kit Aircraft Directory", page 78, Kitplanes Magazine December 2007 Volume 24, Number 12, Belvoir Publications, Aviation Publishing Group LLC.]

This is the first aircraft in the RV line that does not have a hinged or sliding canopy. VanGrunsven instead opted for two gull-winged doors to provide access to the four seats.

This design has benefited from many of the production changes that were pioneered with the RV-7, RV-8 and the RV-9. Like those aircraft, the RV-10 uses computer assisted design to produce a kit with pre-drilled rivet holes, thus greatly reducing assembly time for the builder. The RV-10 is available only as a tricycle landing gear version and no tailwheel or retractable landing gear versions are planned.

The aircraft is constructed of aluminum with the cabin structure and gull-winged doors made from composite materials. The landing gear is tubular steel with the nosewheel mounting tube welded to the engine mount. As in all nose-wheel equipped RV aircraft, the nosewheel is free castering and the aircraft is steered with differential braking. The brakes are mounted conventionally on the rudder pedal toes.

Pricing

The total price of the kit as of April 30, 2006, is $36,180. A "quick-build" option with pre-built wings and fuselage is $46,230. [http://vansaircraft.com/public/kitprice.htm Kit Prices / Lead Times] ] After adding an engine, propeller, avionics and other costs, Van's estimates that the kit can be completed for a total cost between $70,000 and $100,000. Many builders have chosen to install advanced glass cockpit avionics, which can increase the total cost to as much as $150,000.

Construction Time

The amount of time and effort required to build the airplane can vary greatly, but Vans claims that the average first-time builder can complete it in 2,000 man-hours.

Aircraft Type Club

The RV-10 has a very active aircraft type club, Van's Air Force, that provides support for builders, owners and pilots of these aircraft.

pecifications (RV-10)

Specifications are given for 260HP, IO-540 configuration.

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=Pilot
capacity=4 occupants (Including Pilot)
length main=24 ft 5 in
length alt=7.44 m
span main=31 ft 9 in
span alt=9.68 m
height main=8 ft 8 in
height alt=2.64 m
area main=148 ft²

area alt= 13.7 m²
empty weight main=1,520 lb
empty weight alt=689 kg
loaded weight main=2,700 lb
loaded weight alt=1225 kg
max takeoff weight main= 2600lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1181kg
engine (prop)=Lycoming O-540/IO-540
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main= 210-260hp
power alt= 157-194 kW

max speed main= 208 mph at sea level

max speed alt= 332 km/h
never exceed speed main= mph
never exceed speed alt= km/h
range main=1,000 miles Cruise 55% power at 8,000 ft

range alt=1,600 km

ceiling main=20,000 ft (est)

ceiling alt= 6,100 m
climb rate main=1,450 ft/min

climb rate alt=7.4 m/s
loading main=18.6 lb/ft²

loading alt= 91 kg/m²

References

* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?front=yes&maxres=500&keywords=rv-10 Airliners.net - RV-10]

External links

* [http://vansaircraft.com/ Van's Aircraft]
* [http://www.vansairforce.net Van's Air Force - Aircraft Type Club]

Related content

Related development

* Van's Aircraft RV-6
* Van's Aircraft RV-7

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